Pritiko leading the way in late model division at Delaware

Two years ago, Connor Pritiko was eight laps from his first big win at Delaware Speedway.

Two years ago, Connor Pritiko was eight laps from his first big win at Delaware Speedway.

His older cousin Matt – an APC United late model series champion and track mainstay – caught him and zoomed past to take the checkered flag.

“I have a picture of it,” the 18-year-old Medway grad from Kilworth said with a laugh, “and the way I look at it, I’d rather lose to him than everybody else.”

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Now, Matt has put the brakes on regular racing while busy with a young family and tending to business at Burwell Autobody in London. But Connor is keeping the bloodline rich with first-place trophies.

The teen already has won twice in the weekly late model series this season and is leading the points in a big way over distinguished drivers Gary Adriaensen, Ray Morneau and Jesse Kennedy heading into action Friday at the track.

“The last couple of championships have been decided by just one or two points,” Connor said, “so this is a very good start for us.”

Matt, of course, was a major influence. When he was racing at Delaware, Flamboro and Sauble, his uncle Paul would bring son Connor along to the pits from age seven on.

“From there, it kind of took off,” Connor said. “We started talking to more people that said you should get into this, and it was like, ‘Yeah, why not?’”

He started karting in Point Pelee, then hooked up with the Waterloo Regional Kart Club. From there, he got picked by Trevor Wickens-owned Prime Power Team near Hamilton in 2016 and travelled to big races in places such as Florida and Vegas.

Qualifying has concluded here @DelawareSpdway. Connor Pritiko takes the @EpicRaceWear_ca Fast Qualifier award. pic.twitter.com/H5b5d5znWa

When Connor joined the late model circuit, he paved his own way in securing sponsorship for his No. 19 race car with H and N Roofing and Sheet Metal, Glencoe Auto Recyclers, Domus Developments, Viana Dental, Leavens Automotive and Hully Gully.

“It’s been fun and I consider myself a veteran even though I’m one of the youngest out there,” said Connor, who will study architecture technology at Fanshawe College in the fall. “I’d like to follow what guys like Matt have done and maybe one day try some (NASCAR) PInty’s racing.

“We’ll see what happens down the road.”

Matt also has pitched in to get him rolling, spotting for him early in his late model career.

“He would come out and show me the ropes,” Connor said. “He was a big help in showing me the lines to run and what to do and a big mentor, almost.”

The only thing Connor doesn’t share with Matt is his physical presence.

“He and his brother are like six-foot-four, six-foot-five,” Connor joked, “and I came out five-foot-eight. I needed pedal extensions my first few years.”

It certainly hasn’t slowed him down much, though.

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Twitter.com/RyanatLFPress

Friday night racing: Pro late models, V8 stocks, bone stocks.

Spectator gates open 6 p.m. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m.

More info: www.delawarespeedway.com

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